Vasquez has served as director of the Peace Corps since his 2002 appointment by Bush. His immediate goal for the 42-year-old program is to double the number of volunteers by 2007 and increase minority involvement.

After graduating from the University of Redlands - he was the first college graduate in his family - Vasquez became, at the age of 19, the youngest police officer for the city of Orange. Over the years, he served as an assistant to former Orange County Supervisor Bruce Nestande and a regional manager and division vice president for the Southern California Edison Co.

In addition, he has worked for former California governors George Deukmejian and Pete Wilson and was appointed by Deukmejian to the Orange County Board of Supervisors - the first Hispanic to serve on the board. During his tenure, he championed such issues as childcare, improved healthcare access, tourism and economic development.

In 1998, Wilson appointed Vasquez to the California Council for the Humanities. The following year, Vasquez was appointed by Davis to the Governor's Task Force on Diversity.

Vasquez served on the advisory boards of Habitat for Humanity and the Salvation Army, the board of directors for the Orange County Council of the Boy Scouts of America and was secretary of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. He also was a board member of Olive Crest, St. Joseph Hospital Foundation and KOCE-TV.

His leadership and community service have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Coro Foundation Crystal Eagle Award, Marine Corps Scholarship Fund Globe and Anchor Award, Black Chamber of Commerce of Orange County Award for Community Leadership, Jewish National Fund Tree of Life Award and B'nai B'rith Award for Leadership and Community Service. Vasquez also was recognized by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

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Story Source: AScribe - The Public Interest Newswire

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